PorchDrinking’s Weekly Denver Beer Beat

Hey there PorchDrinkers! Native to the city and looking for events to tide you over for the week? New to the city and looking for the best place to find tasty suds? Visiting and looking for events to hit while you are in town? Check out this week’s Denver Beer Beat . . . did we miss any events in this week’s? Let us know.

Fresh off of the tail end of some Kentucky Derby-hat-wearing, Cinco de Mayo-beergarita-sipping shenanigans – we launch into the next week of celebeertions! Here is a roundup of our not-to-miss events including new brewery openings, beer releases, keep the glassware events, foodie-friendly fare and a list of American Craft Beer Week events. I’m serious. So many fromages. Livin’ that fromage life, yo. That’s what all of your instatweets goin’ be sayin’.

#fromagelyfe It’s awesome. It’s like American Craft Cheese Week but it’s really American Craft Beer Week. And the countdown is on and Denver/Boulder wants you to party with them! So, Cheers for beers! Let’s get to it.

Wednesday, May 7

River North Brewery (Denver) – Wayward Wednesday tapping today will offer up the much acclaimed Anniversary Ale #2! Only five gallons, this will be the last keg released this year. The only other keg is reserved for next year’s Anniversary party. First pours at 3pm Wednesday. If you can’t make it then, come snag one of the last bottles this week!

Sanitas Brewing Co (Boulder) – 6pm to 8pm – Join Sanitas Brewing Company for their monthly beer and cheese pairing. Cheeses are provided by Cured in Boulder, CO. The theme of this month’s sampling is “Black vs. White” and will feature Sanitas’ Black IPA and White IPA paired with 5 artisan cheeses and a chocolate. Snag tickets here.

Copper Kettle Brewing Co (Denver) – May is “Fruit Beer” Cask Month and to start off the string of Wednesday firkins, on May 7th Copper Kettle Brewing will tap their Copper Hopper IPA with Blood Oranges. The firkin should tap around 3pm if not sooner. Food also available that day via Ckrepes at 3pm.

Prost Brewing Co (Denver) – Prost Brewing Co is adding bottles to its distribution footprint that already sees their 64oz growlers. The bottles are said to go statewide. Look for 6-packs of their Weissbier, Pils and Dunkel in stores soon. Distribution is being facilitated with the help of Coors distributing.

Parry’s Pints (Highlands Ranch) – Uinta Brewing Pint Night – 6P to 8P at the Highlands Ranch location. The Unita Brew Crew will be there to hand out a Uinta pint glass to those that purchase one of their crafty delights. A representative from the brewery will be on hand to talk to customers about their craft that’s poured into said vessel. #AleYeah

Great Divide Brewing Co (Denver) – Their 20th Anniversary Party has been set for Saturday, June 14th. Tickets go on sale this Friday, May 9th at 10am at greatdivide.com. The real news? They are moving their celebration down the street. Party with them at the site of their newly acquired, second facility – 3403 Brighton Blvd – just across the street from The Source.

McNichol’s Building (Denver) – Slue Foot Sue’s Shindig – It’s about time for a barn burning foot stomping beer drinking square dancing hootenanny. So Imbibe! Denver teamed up with The New West Gallery at Mcnichols Building, Casey James Prestwood and the Burning Angels, 5 Colorado breweries, Rockmount Ranchwear, and Moe’s BBQ to do an event where they could finally use the word hootenanny to describe it. While day dreaming of this event, they thought $10 should include craft beer, BBQ, and music. Who needs $200 galas when you’ve got Imbibe?! Join us at the Slue Foot Sue’s on May 9th at the McNichols Building.

Saturday, May 10

BrewAsanas and Station 26 Brewing (Northeast Park Hill – Denver) – 11:30am – Beer and yoga? Could two things like these ever co-exist? You bet your flexible-ass they can! BrewAsanas takes a rocking one-hour yoga class and follows it up with a brew in the brewery. Bring a yoga mat and water! Sign up here.

Whistlestop Park (Niwot) –New Brew Fest will be held in Niwot, Colorado on May 10th at Whistlestop Park! A ton of other local breweries will be pouring them Saturday Suds for you and your buds. Get your tickets here.

The New Brew Fest, put on by Colorado Beer Trail, takes place from 1 to 5 p.m. There will be live music, food trucks and seventy-plus beers and ciders from 26 new breweries (less than five years old) in and around Boulder County, including: 300 Suns, 4 Noses, Asher, Big Choice, Bootstrap, BRU Handbuilt Ales & Eats, City Star, Crystal Springs, Echo, Front Range, Gravity, Industrial Revoultion, J Wells, Kettle & Stone, Kokopelli, Odd13, The Old Mine, The Post, Powder Keg Brewing Company, Sanitas, Shine, Twelve Degree, Very Nice, West Flanders, Westminster, Wild Woods, and Wonderland. General admission is $35 in advance, $40 at the door. VIP admission (which includes an exclusive sampling hour with brewers from noon to 1 p.m., cheese and chocolate, an event t-shirt, roundtrip shuttle transfers, and voucher for a beer at Bootstrap Brewing at the after party) are $80, and only available in advance. There will be an after-party at Bootstrap Brewing from 5 to 10 p.m. Get more info at NewBrewFest.com.

38 State Brewing Co (County Line – Littleton) – NEW BREWERY OPENING – For opening day they plan to have 5 of their beers on tap including an amber ale, a lemon-honey wheat, a chocolate bourbon stout, a Double IPA, and a Scottish Ale. They will have El Toro the Tot on hand serving up some tots and burgers.

BookBar (Berkeley – Denver) – Local Author and vintage beer connoisseur, Patrick Dawson, will be joining us to discuss and sign his book ‘Vintage Beer: A Taster’s Guide to Brews That Improve Over Time.’ Epic Brewing will be here pouring tastes of their vintage barrel-aged beers. The tasting is $5 or free with the purchase of the book.

Sunday, May 11

Station 26 Brewing Co. (Northeast Park Hill – Denver) – Tell your mom how cool she is this Mother’s Day with a brunch designed by Farm to Truck, featuring beermosas and Corvus coffee! Station 26 Brewing Co hosts one heck of a beer brunch for your mom or special loved one.

Funkwerks (Ft. Collins) – Funkwerks just did a collaboration brew with some other Fort Collins breweries and it will be tapped on Monday, May 12th at Funkwerks (and the other breweries). The barley pop will be draft only so head over soon and support your local Ft. Collins scene and chug a lug on some Belgian IPA for me!

Scratch Burrito and Happy Tap (Berkeley – Denver) – Strange Craft (formerly Strange Brewing) will host a tap takeover of all of the taps at Scratch Burrito on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

BrewAsanas and Jagged Mountain (Downtown – Denver) – Yoga and Beer! Visit BrewAsanas at Jagged Mountain on Mon. May 12th at 6pm Sign up here. Summer has arrived! That means hiking and biking and running and climbing … and YOGA. Bring a friend or two – register now for other May events also before classes fill up! Bring a yoga mat and water! NOMaste!

Tuesday, May 13

Strange Craft (Lincoln Park – Denver) – Strange Craft will tap its 2012 Batch of Dr StrangeLove Barleywine today at 3 p.m. The beer is a doomsday of deliciousness ready to explode with sweet maltiness and will deliver a big bomb of a full mouthfeel!

Crystal Springs Brewing Co (Louisville) – Come check out the new Crystal Springs Brewing Company taproom in Louisville, CO for their 4th Anniversary. There will be 13 amazing beers on tap and some surprises, including a special tapping of Tic Wit, their belgian wit.

Our Mutual Friend Malt & Brew (Five Points – Denver) – Keep the Glass! Every Tuesday for $10 you get an artist series glass (10oz) and three fills (under 8% abv). Every month (or while supplies last) will feature a new artist. Support local art and local suds! Glass #9 by Mr. Andrew Hoffman starts today. Cheers!

Odyssey Beerwerks (East Arvada) – Get a FREE BEER every Tuesday when you buy a growler fill. Offer good all day on Tuesdays. Also enjoy Happy Hour 3pm to 5pm.

Black Sky Brewery (Baker – Denver) – Black Sky Brewery is unleashing a storm of events to reign down on the cohabitants of the Baker neighborhood in Denver. Prepare to have your bowels engorged with the most metal-est of beers! Hails for ales! American Craft Beer Week just got heavy! Tonight kicks things off with the Ale of Yoto Release Party. 13-time award-winning sci-fi/fantasy novel The Bane of Yoto, published by FiXT, is setting its sights on beer lovin’ taste buds. Author Joshua Viola has partnered with Denver’s Black Sky Brewery to create The Ale of Yoto, a blueberry wheat beer crafted by master brewer Harry Smith. Buffalo Burgers are also happening. Get ther’ at 7pm, peasants!

Future Events

May 17 – Odyssey Beerwerks will celebrate its first anniversary at noon. In addition to the ten beers already on tap, Odyssey will release five special beers throughout the day. There will also be three food trucks (The Orange Crunch, Chuey Fu’s, and Bubba Dukes BBQ) and live music (The Social Livers, The Prairie Scholars, and Jim Jamm Jimmy). The brewery will be drawing for prizes and there will be plenty of activities to keep you busy as if you need anything other than their delicious brews. You know what, we will just see you down there!

May 17 – Colorado Plus – Over 15 of their house beers will be on tap, special menu, live acoustic music from YourOwnMedicine and ninety percent nineties. This is going to be a chilled out, summer bash dedicated to all of the wonderful (now) friends that they consider a part of the Cplus family. thank you to everyone who loves us. Come join the party!

May 17 – Denver AHA Rally – Colorado Cider Company – Folks in attendance will enjoy Colorado Cider Co samples, take home a Rally-exclusive gift from the AHA. Attendees will be given a complimentary Colorado Cider Co. tasting glass and meet Colorado Cidermakers and AHA staff. There will also be a VIP cidery tour, and of course, another chance to mingle with local homebrewers. Win great prizes from the AHA and Colorado Cider Co. AHA rallies are free to current AHA members. Non-members can join now, or sign up onsite at a discounted member rate. Save time and fill out a membership form in advance to bring with you to the Rally. Don’t forget to RSVP to help us properly prepare for the event.

May 24th – Epic Brewing Company – Join the BeerAdvocate for another round of brews. This time they’ll be at Epic Brewing Company in Denver on Saturday, May 24 from 1-5pm. They’ll be drinking beer, making friends, and having an … epic time. No cover. Pay as you consume. All are welcome, so bring your friends! More info and updates can be found here.